To provide ocean science education, to interpret Scripps research and to promote ocean conservation.
Location:
2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, California
Hours:
9 a.m. 5 p.m. daily
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days
Admission Rate:
Adult – $12.00
Senior (60+) – $9.00
College Students with I.D. – $9.00
Youth (3-17 years) – $8.50
UCSD Staff & Students (with ID) – $8.00
Children 2 & under
Free
Members
Group rates (by reservation: 858-534-6691)
Information:
858-534-FISH, aquariuminfo@ucsd.edu
Current Exhibits:
Feeling the Heat: The Climate Challenge:
Explores the scientific facts behind climate change and global warming,
highlighting Scripps half century of climate research. Interactive
exhibits for all ages. In Fall 2007, the exhibit was named the Silver
winner in museum
design for the 2007 Event Design Awards. Sponsored by Connecticut-based
Event Design Magazine, the annual awards recognize the best designs worldwide across events, exhibits and environments. Watch a video about the exhibit here.
There's Something About Seahorses:
Saddle up for a close encounter with the sea's most captivating
creature, and learn all the unique "somethings" about seahorses. See
more than a dozen seahorse species and their relatives, visit babies in
the special seahorse nursery, investigate what makes the seahorse a
fish, and discover Birch Aquarium's award-winning efforts to conserve this threatened animal.
Wonders of Water:
Exhibits the forces behind of erosion, water flow and ocean currents
through interactive stations that allow visitors to create rapids,
canals, dams and islands.
Major Exhibits:
Hall of Fishes
: Features more than 60 tanks of Pacific fishes and invertebrates from
the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of
Mexico and the Caribbean. The largest habitat is a 70,000-gallon kelp
forest.
Shark Reef: 13,000-gallon tank devoted to shark species that inhabit
tropical reef habitats, including whitetip and blacktip reef sharks,
nurse sharks, and epaulette sharks. Interpretive panels on shark biology and conservation accompany the
reef.
Tide Pool Plaza:
Features three living tide pools where visitors can touch and learn
about inhabitants with docents. Windows in the habitats provide
up-close views of starfish, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, lobsters and
other animals local to San Diego's tide pools. Pools overlook La Jolla
and the Pacific Ocean.
Live Exhibits:
More than 5,000 specimens representing more than 380 species of fishes and invertebrates.
Splash! Cafe offers
an array of gourmet delights next to the life-sized gray whale mother
and calf fountain. Serves hot and cold beverages, sandwiches, snacks
and more in an outdoor atmosphere with plenty of seating and umbrellas
for shade. Open 11-2 weekdays, 10-4 weekends. Cash only.
Souvenirs:
The aquarium's book and gift shop
carries a wide selection of informative field guides, books about the
ocean and near-shore environments, marine-themed toys, clothing,
jewelry, fine art and more. Open 9:30-5 daily. Merchandise also available online.
Winter 2010: For the second year in a row, San Diegans who participated in Museum Month visited Birch Aquarium at Scripps more than any other local museum.
Fall 2009:San Diego City Beat recognized Birch Aquarium at Scripps as San Diego’s “Best Place to Admire Sea Life Without Getting Wet.” Also, San Diegans voted Birch Aquarium at Scripps as the second-best Local Museum in the annual 10News.com A-List poll.
Winter 2008: Executive Director Nigella Hillgarth is recognized as a 2009 Metro Mover to Watch by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine.
Fall 2008: San Diegans voted Birch Aquarium at Scripps as a Top 3 Local Museum in the annual 10News.com A-List poll.
Spring 2008: Birch Aquarium at Scripps is named San Diego's Best Children's Activity Center or Museum in Ranch & Coast magazine's third-annual "Readers' Choice: Best of 2008" survey
Fall 2007: Feeling the Heat: The Climate Challenge
exhibition is named the Silver winner in museum design for the 2007
Event Design Awards. Sponsored by Connecticut-based Event Design Magazine, the annual awards recognize the best designs worldwide across events, exhibits and environments.
